I use DP for gigging, audio and MIDI in the chunks, and then a Vrack with the Vocal, guitar, plugs etc. NOTE: I especially love DP control on a little iPad Touch on my mic stand – MOTU, please update the app!
For jamming and solo work, I tried One Man Band, but the editing the arranger files is a black art. So I though I could do something in DP, thanks to DP’s unique split structure
I decided up front that I would have 4 sets of 4 MIDI tracks – drum, bass, pad and keys (some of the bass and key tracks could be minor key) for each chunk. Each track would be a looping 4 or 8 bar pattern. I would want to switch various combinations of tracks via a foot switch.
I have a set of Keith McMillan 12 step pedals. Using a utility called MIDIpipe, I mapped the 13 bass pedal notes to pitch bends 0- 8192, set the receiving synth to +12 pitch bend. To avoid the obvious pitch bend effect, I made several maps with various split points. For instance the E split imitated the bass guitar, the D below E folds up an octave. For a keyboard, a G split minimized the “staircase” pitch bend effect.
For the foot switching part, I looked at expensive MIDI foot controllers. Then I discovered that MIDIkeys has a “Global hotkey” feature – it hijacks the keystrokes mapped to it, even when running in the background. I made a foot switch using an old Dell keyboard. I decided to use the number pad key codes so that I could also use a Bluetooth number pad as a wireless controller.
The next step was to open the MIDIkeys package, and find the keymap xml file, and edit it to respond to the numpad key codes. So now I could generate MIDI notes in the background to be used for control.
As DP does not allow control access to the track mute buttons (outside of the control surface hooks), I decided to use MIDIPipe and Applescript to do the switching. I set up 16 IAC channels and routed the 16 MIDI tracks to MIDIpipe via IAC.
I could then program various foot switches to activate various sets of the IAC DP MIDI tracks in real time. But arrangers allow you to press a button ahead of time, and the change occurs on the downbeat. And, as you probably need to play a bass note on the downbeat as well…
MIDIpipe has a limited implementation of Applescript, but with the help of some friendly folks at MacScripter, I discovered that 8 or 9 properties were “global” ie: could be shared between individual MIDIpipe “pipes”. So now I could set a flag for a function and then have DP send a “trigger note” on a designated DP “control track” to trigger changes on the downbeat.
The biggest challenge was limiting the number of footswitches. I currently have 8 – 5 “mixes”, a major/minor toggle, a drum fill one shot and start stop.
If anyone is interested I could share the MIDIPipe file and other details.
Using DP as an Auto-Arranger
Moderator: James Steele
Forum rules
This forum is for most discussion related to the use and optimization of Digital Performer [MacOS] and plug-ins as well as tips and techniques. It is NOT for troubleshooting technical issues, complaints, feature requests, or "Comparative DAW 101."
This forum is for most discussion related to the use and optimization of Digital Performer [MacOS] and plug-ins as well as tips and techniques. It is NOT for troubleshooting technical issues, complaints, feature requests, or "Comparative DAW 101."
- terrybritton
- Posts: 1117
- Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 8:45 am
- Primary DAW OS: Windows
- Location: Elizabeth City, NC
- Contact:
Re: Using DP as an Auto-Arranger
Very impressive undertaking! My hat's off to you for sure!
I'm on a PC, and similar tools are likely available to do these sorts of things. But having the advantage of Applescript hooks like you do is a fantastic advantage!
I agree that little iPad app is terrific -- wish they made that for Android. I like the Cuemix one as well for TouchOSC, and use it on an Android tablet (Nexus 7).
Terry
I'm on a PC, and similar tools are likely available to do these sorts of things. But having the advantage of Applescript hooks like you do is a fantastic advantage!
I agree that little iPad app is terrific -- wish they made that for Android. I like the Cuemix one as well for TouchOSC, and use it on an Android tablet (Nexus 7).
Terry
Computer: Sweetwater CS400v7 Intel Core i7-10700K CPU @ 3.80GHz | 64Gigs RAM | Windows 11 Pro x64 |
MOTU 828 mk3 hybrid
DAWs & Live: MOTU Digital Performer 11.31 | Cantabile Performer 4
Keyboard Synths: Kawai K5000s, Korg Wavestation
Controllers: NI Komplete Kontrol S-88 Mk3 & S-49 Mk2; Maschine Mk3 & JAM;
Akai MPK249 & 225, Alesis QX49, Behringer BCF2000 & FCB1010
Rack Modules: Ensoniq ESQm, Yamaha TX81Z, Wavestation SR
Tutorials: https://youtube.com/@CreatorsMediaTools
MOTU 828 mk3 hybrid
DAWs & Live: MOTU Digital Performer 11.31 | Cantabile Performer 4
Keyboard Synths: Kawai K5000s, Korg Wavestation
Controllers: NI Komplete Kontrol S-88 Mk3 & S-49 Mk2; Maschine Mk3 & JAM;
Akai MPK249 & 225, Alesis QX49, Behringer BCF2000 & FCB1010
Rack Modules: Ensoniq ESQm, Yamaha TX81Z, Wavestation SR
Tutorials: https://youtube.com/@CreatorsMediaTools